Walking with three kids and a dog

Walking with three kids and a dog

I had a moment of clarity today. I have already forgotten what is was. Something about how simple it seems to train a dog. Positive reinforcement. Creating neural pathways. Ignoring bad behavior so it will go away. For one split second it all seemed so clear. Children have the same needs as dogs. For one split second it all made sense. I had another moment of clarity. Living in Chicago in the winter with three children is brutal. We are cooped up for months on end. I am depressed and cranky. Summer is here. I see the light. I feel like a different person. What to do about this? Take up a winter sport? I hate being cold and wet. I need to remember how hard the winter months are on our psyche and do something about it next year. I had several random encounters with nice people today and I am reminded that there are nice people in the world. I just don't run into them all winter because we don't get out much! Two year olds connecting with each other in the ice cream shop. A man talking with his dog at the park. A neighbor stops and chats with her dogs and actually acknowledges my three children and engages them in a conversation. So simple and so powerful. Connecting.